Unsung Animators: Honorable Mentions

Turns out 50’s too few a number to list all the Disney animators past and present that inspire me. A studio with such rich history, promising future, excellent artistry, and most of all very talented, sincere artists is very hard to narrow down to just 50 animators who make it all happen. So here I’m going to tell you some about a few of my inspirations and heroes whose work I greatly admire and encourage you all to study.

Past

Hugh Fraser- Fraser was born in Butte,Montana in 1904. He animated at Disney from Snow White all the way through Lady and the Tramp. Hugh’s work was very cartoony and has great use of caricature. I also love the speed and weight you can see in his animation. My favorite scenes of his are in the court room sequence in the Wind and the Willows. Hugh Fraser was oftentimes used in scenes supervised by Norman Ferguson and Fergy really used his talent well.  Among the things Hugh worked on include Honest John and Gideon in Pinocchio, the gossipy elephants in Dumbo (including a majority of their scenes in the Pyramid of Pachyderms sequence), some stuff with the mice in Cinderella, and good stuff on the Walrus and the Carpenter inAlicein Wonderland. He later worked for Hanna Barbara and passed away in 1994.

Fraser’s Work

Snow White(1937)- Animator(uncredited)

Pinocchio(1940)-Animator on Honest John and Gideon

Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Dance of the Hours

Dumbo(1941)- Animator on Gossipy Elephants

Saludos Amigos(1942)- Animator

How to Play Baseball(1942)- Animator

Pluto at the Zoo(1942)- Animator(uncredited)

Victory Through Airpower(1943)-Animator

Victory Vehicles(1943)- Animator

How to Be a Sailor(1944)- Animator

The Eyes to Have It(1945)- Animator

Canine Casanova(1945)- Animator

No Sail(1945)- Animator

Knight for a Day(1945)- Animator

Make Mine Music(1946)-Animator on Casey at the Bat

Squatter’s Rights(1946)- Animator

Frank Duck Brings ’em Alive(1946)- Animator

Double Dribble(1946)- Animator

Fun and Fancy Free(1947)-Animator

The Big Wash(1948)- Animator

Mickey and the Seal(1948)- Animator

Pluto’s Suprise Package(1949)- Animator

Pluto’s Sweater(1949)-Animator

Bubble Bee(1949)- Animator

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad(1949)- Aniamtor on Wind and the Willows

Sheep Dog(1949)- Animator

Pluto’s Heart Throb(1950)- Animator

Pluto and the Gopher(1950)- Animator

Cinderella(1950)-Animator

Wonder Dog(1950)- Animator

Hold That Pose(1950)- Animator

Cold War(1951)- Animator

Tommorrow We Diet(1951)- Animator

Alice in Wonderland(1951)-Animator

Get Rich Quick(1951)- Animator

No Smoking(1951)- Animator

Man’s Best Friend(1952)- Animator

Two Gun Goofy(1952)- Animator

How to Be a Detective(1952)- Animator

Two Weeks Vacation(1952)- Animator

Peter Pan(1953)- Animator

Father’s Day Off(1953)- Animator

Father’s Week-end(1953)- Animator

Ben and Me(1953)- Animator

Lady and the Tramp(1955)-Animator

 

Don Lusk- One of the few old guys still with us today. I’m a nut for the bold, strong draftsmanship and understanding of movement that Lusk put in his work. Some of his greatest accomplishments include Cleo in Pinocchio, the Arabian Fish Dance in Fantasia, and some of the best scenes with the Stag in Bambi. He stayed at Disney until One Hundred and One Dalmatians. He is currently alive and is 97 years old.

Lusk’s Work

Pinocchio(1940)- Animator on Cleo

Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Nutcracker Suite

Bambi(1942)- Animator

How to Fish(1942)- Animator

Song of the South(1946)- Animator on Minor Characters

Melody Time(1948)- Animator on Johnny Appleseed

Ichabod and Mr. Toad(1949)- Animator on Wind and the Willows

Cinderella(1950)- Animator

Alice in Wonderland(1951)- Animator

Lambert the Sheepish Lion(1952)- Animator

Trick or Treat(1952)- Animator

Peter Pan(1953)- Animator

Ben and Me(1953)- Animator

Lady and the Tramp(1955)- Animator

Sleeping Beauty(1959)- Animator

Dalmatians(1961)- Animator

 

Jack Campbell- One of the first masters of the human figure at Disney and a key animator on Snow White as well as the Blue Fairy. True he did use a little too much rotoscope sometimes but at least he drew the anatomy properly and made the animation believable. Some of his later accomplishments include Mr. Blue Bird in Song of the South and Aunt Sarah in Lady and the Tramp.

Snow White(1937)- Animator on Snow White

Brave Little Tailor(1938)- Animator

Ferdinand and the Bull(1938)- Animator

Mother Goose Goes to Hollywood(1939)- Animator

Pinocchio(1940)-Animator on Blue Fairy

Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Pastoral Role

Reluctant Dragon(1941)- Animator

Dumbo(1941)- Animator

Symphony Hour(1942)- Animator

Make Mine Music(1946)- Animator

Song of the South(1946)- Animator on Mr. Blue Bird

Lady and the Tramp(1955)- Animator on Aunt Sarah

 

Bob Stokes- Master at life drawing and at a time the teacher at Chouinard Institute. He was a key animator on Snow White as well as a key animator on Gepetto (his best work in my opinion.) He also worked on the Nutcracker Suite before leaving Disney in the early 1940s.

Stoke’s Work

Old Mill(1937)- Animator

Snow White(1937)- Animator on Snow White

Mother Goose Goes to Hollywoood(1939)

Pinocchio(1940)- Animator on Geppetto

Fantasia(1940)- Aniamtor on Nutcracker Suite

 

Bernie Wolf- Bernie Wolf was born in 1911 and started in the business inking Krazy Kat cartoons in New Yorkat the age of 13. Soon after he began working at Fleischer’s on silent cartoons before sound came in and Wolf quickly became a Betty Boop specialist. Probably his greatest scene at Fleischer’s is the mysterious-little creepy walrus dancing in Minnie the Moocher. In 1933 Bernie joined the gold rush and went out west to animate at the Iwerks studio.  By 1938 he was at Disney butNew Yorkanimators were no longer thought of kindly at the studio and were harshly criticized. However Wolf overcame this and did brilliant animation on Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio. He did some great scenes including Jiminy meeting the Blue Fairy, Jiminy dancing in the music box, and the one of him riding the seahorse. All these scenes were challenging and showcased great personality animation. Bernie Wolf then went on to animate in the Pastoral Role in Fantasia(including the scene of the centaurs and centaurettes dancing around Bacchus as well as the Centaur shielding the Centaurette from the storm) and some of the clowns in Dumbo (he did strong, clear poses on the clowns shadows when they’re bragging.) Unfortunately he went out on Strike and never came back. Wolf did however have a career after Disney including work at MGM, at independent studios, and at Hanna-Barbara. He died in 2006.

Wolf’s Work

Donald’s Nephews(1938)- Animator

Goofy and Wilbur(1939)- Animator

Pinocchio(1940)- Animator on Jiminy Cricket

Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Pastoral Role

Reluctant Dragon(1941)- Animator

Golden Eggs(1941)- Animator

Gentleman’s Gentleman(1941)- Animator

Dumbo(1941)- Animator on Clowns

Mickey’s Birthday Party(1942)- Animator

Symphony Hour(1942)- Animator

Olympic Champ(1942)- Animator

 

Walt Kelly- An animator in the late 30s and early 40s who went on to draw the Pogo comic strip. He was very close friends with Fred Moore and best friends with Ward Kimball, both men he socialized and played around with a lot. Kelly animated scenes with Gepetto inside Monstro fishing in Pinocchio, scenes with the fauns in Fantasia, great animation with the boy in the Reluctant Dragon, and lots of scenes in Dumbo( he animated Mrs. Jumbo in anger, many scenes with the Ring Master, and helped out Kimball some on the crows.)

Kelly’s Work

Pinocchio(1940)- Animator on Geppetto

Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Fawns in Pastoral Role

Reluctant Dragon(1941)- Animator on Reluctant Dragon and Boy

Little Whirlwind(1941)- Animator

Niftey Ninties(1941)- Animator

Dumbo(1941)- Animator on Ring Master, Mrs. Jumbo, and Crows

 

Milt Neil- Nearly forgotten animator who animated lots of great stuff with Timothy in Dumbo (including the scene where he speaks to the Ringmaster in his sleep) and the excellent scenes with the llama in Saludos Amigos. He began at Disney in 1935 and left in 1944. Neil moved east and became involved with Howdy Doody. Milt taught animation for many years before passing away in 1997.

 Neils’ Work

Ugly Duckling(1939)- Animator

Pinocchio(1940)- Animtor

Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Pastoral Role

Reluctant Dragon(1941)- Animator

Dumbo(1941)- Animator on Timouthy

Der Fuehrer’s Face(1942)- Animator

Saludos Amigos(1942)- Animator on Donald Duck and Llama

How to Play Baseball(1942)- Animator

Fall Out- Fall In(1943)- Animator

Three Caballeros(1944)- Animator

Make Mine Music(1946)- Animator (uncredited)

Ken O’Brien- Another forgotten animator who did some great stuff including some of the best scenes with Bambi and his mother, the brilliant Princess Tiger Lilly dance in Peter Pan, and Aurora and Phillip’s dance at the end of Sleeping Beauty(which also was the dance used for Belle and the Beast as well for all fellow Disney geeks.)

O’Brien’s Work

Pinocchio(1940)- Animator(uncredited)

Bambi(1942)- Animator on Bambi and Mother

Make Mine Music(1946)- Animator

Song of the South(1946)- Animator on Minor Characters

Fun and Fancy Free(1947)- Animator

Melody Time(1948)- Animator on Pecas Bill

Ichabod and Mr. Toad(1949)- Animator

Cinderella(1950)- Animator

Peter Pan(1953)- Animator on Peter Pan and Tigerlilly

Donald’s Diary(1954)

Lady and the Tramp(1955)- Animator

Sleeping Beauty(1959)- Animator on Aurora and Phillip

 

Jerry Hathcock- A wild, cartoony animator who most notably did a lot of the scenes of the crocodile in Peter Pan as well as some business with the pound dogs in Lady and the Tramp and the fairies in Sleeping Beauty.

Hathcock’s Work

Rover’s Rival(1937)- Animator

Pluto’s Playmate(1941)- Animator

Dog Watch(1945)- Animator

Pluto’s Kid Brother(1946)- Animator

Make Mine Music(1946)- Animator (uncredited)

In Dutch(1946)-Animator

Purloined Pup(1946)- Animator

Pluto’s Housewarming(1947)- Animator

Rescue Dog(1947)- Animator

Mickey’s Delayed Date(1947)- Animator

Mail Dog(1947)- Animator

Pluto’s Blue Note (1947)- Animator

Mickey Down Under (1948)- Animator

Bone Bandit(1948)- Animator

Cat Nap Pluto(1948)- Animator

Cinderella(1950)- Animator (uncredited)

Morris the Midnight Moose(1950)- Animator

Peter Pan(1953)- Animator on Crocodile

Ben and Me(1953)- Animator

How to Sleep(1953)- Animator

Lady and the Tramp(1955)- Animator on Pound dogs

How to Have an Accident at Home(1956)- Animator

Paul Bunyan(1959)- Animator

Donald in Mathmatic Land(1959)- Animator

Sleeping Beauty(1959)- Animator on Fairies(uncredited)

How to Have An Accident At Work(1959)- Animator

 

Harvey Toombs- An unsung animator who’s also the father of imaginer Kim Irvine.  He did almost all of the scenes of Lady Tremaine in Cinderella Frank Thomas didn’t do.

Toomb’s Work

Pinocchio(1940)- Animator (uncredited)

Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Dance of the Hours

Dumbo(1941)- Animator on Gossipy Elephants

Bambi(1942)- Animator (uncredited)

Saludos Amigos(1942)- Animator (uncredited)

Victory Through Airpower(1943)- Animator

Home Defense(1943)- Animator

Donald’s Day Off(1944)- Animator

Three Caballeros(1944)- Animator on Cold- Blooded Penguin

Donald’s Crime(1945)- Animator

Make Mine Music(1946)- Animator

Song of the South(1946)- Animator on Minor Characters

Fun and Fancy Free(1947)- Animator

Melody Time(1948)- Animator on Johnny Applesead and Once Upon a Wintertime

Ichabod and Mr. Toad(1949)- Animator on Sleeping Hollow

Cinderella(1950)- Animator on Stepmother

Tommorrow We Diet(1951)- Animator

Alice in Wonderland(1951)- Animator

Peter Pan(1953)- Animator

Melody(1953)-Animator

Ben and Me(1953)- Animator

Lady and the Tramp(1955)- Animator

Sleeping Beauty(1959)- Animator

Donald in Mathematic Land(1959)- Animator

How to Have an Accident at Work(1959)- Animator

 

Present

Hendel Butoy- Born in Brazil Hendel Butoy moved toSouthern Californiaat a young age. He then went on to be a standout talent in the third class in the character animation program at Calarts. In 1979 Butoy went on to Disney where he began his career as an animator on the Fox and the Hound. Hendel animated on the Black Cauldron before becoming a supervising animator on Basil and Oliver and Co.  After that he directed the Rescuers Down Under and then two segments in Fantasia which he also supervised the animation (Pines of Rome and Piano Concert No. 2.) In 1999 Hendel Butoy left Disney and now is a faculty member at a Christian school inTennessee. What I find so inspiration about him is his great technical skills and devotion to his work. Butoy once wrote: “Think about how each shot fits into the big picture. I try to put myself into the character’s situation and cull from my own experiences. If you don’t have the experience, I do research or read and learn about it. I don’t try to make anything personal; I just try to keep it true to the situation.” He is also an avid thumbnailer and is influenced largely by Hayao Miyazaki as well as Heinrich Kley.

Butoy’s Work

Fox and the Hound(1981)- Animator

Black Cauldron(1985)- Animator

Great Mouse Detective(1986)- Supervising Animator on Dr. Dawson

Oliver and Co.(1988)- Supervising Animator on Oliver, Rita, and Tito

Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Director

Fantasia 2000(1999)- Supervising Animation Director and Director on Pines of Rome and Piano Concerto No. 2

 

Matthew O’Callaghan- Very talented animator best known for supervising Eric in the Little Mermaid as well as the Chef in the same film. He also animated the climax of the Great Mouse Detective (which I still personally prefer to call Basil on Baker’s Street.) O’Callaghan is a master at making his animation lively and cartoony. He is now directing shorts at Warner Brothers animation.

O’Callaghan’s Work

Mickey’s Christmas Carol(1983)- Assistant Animator(uncredited), Creative Talent

Great Mouse Detective(1986)- Lead Animator on Bat and Climax, Story

Sports Goofy(1986)- Animation Director and Director

Roger Rabbit(1988)- Animator

Little Mermaid(1989)- Supervising Animator on Eric, Louis the Chef, and Ursula in Climax

Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Experimental Animation (uncredited)

 

Dave Cutler- Great draftsman and very bold animator whose best work was animating Joanna in the Rescuers Down Under. He also animated some scenes with Ursula in the Little Mermaid.

Cutler’s Work

Oliver and Co.(1988)- Animator

Littler Mermaid(1989)- Animator on Ursula

Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Supervising Animator on Joanna

Fantasia 2000(1999)- Conceptional Storyboard Artist

Home on the Range(2004)- Production Designer

 

Barry Temple-Agreat animator whose career began back in the 1970s before training under Eric Larson at Disney in the 1980s. He supervised Flounder in Mermaid alongside Dave Pruiksma before moving to theFloridastudio in 1989. Some of his animation there included scenes with Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, scenes with the Sultan in Aladdin, scenes with Zazu in the Lion King, and supervising the cricket in Mulan. After the Florida Studio closed Temple remained in the Orlando area where he currently works as an instructor at Full Sail.

Temple’s Work

Black Cauldron(1985)- Animator

Great Mouse Detective(1986)- Animator

Sports Goofy(1986)- Supervising Animator

Roger Rabbit(1988)- Additional Animator

Oliver and Co.(1988)- Animator

Little Mermaid(1989)- lead animator on Flounder

Roller Coaster Rabbit(1990)- Animator

Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator

Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animator on Lumiere

Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Sultan

Trail Mix-Up(1993)- Animator

Lion King(1994)- Animator on Zazu

Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Ben and Loin

Mulan(1989)- Supervising Animator on Crickee

John Henry(2000)- Animator(uncredited)

Atlantis(2001)- Additonal Animator

Lilo and Stitch(2002)- Animator on Pleaky and David

Home on the Range(2004)- Animator on Mrs. Calloway

 

Ron Husband- Notable for being the first African American supervising animator in Disney history when he supervised the goat in the Hunchback of Notre Dame. He began at Disney in the 1970s and also supervised the elk in Fantasia as well as Dr. Sweet in Atlantis. He has since worked as an imaginer.

Husband’s Work

Small One(1978)- Animator

Fox and the Hound(1981)- Animator

Black Cauldron(1985)- Animator

Great Mouse Detective(1986)- Animator

Oliver and Co.(1988)- Animator

Little Mermaid(1989)- Animator

Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator

Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animator on Gaston

Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Jafar

Lion King(1994)- Animator on Pumbaa

Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on John Smith

Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- supervising animator on Djali

Hercules(1997)- lead animator on Cyclops and Titans

Fantasia 2000(1999)- Supervising Animator on Elk and Animator on Piano Concerto No. 2

Atlantis(2001)- Supervising Animator on Dr. Sweet

Treasure Planet(2002)- Animator on John Silver

 

Shawn Keller- A very wild animator who was known for doing wacky, zany pranks at the studio. I still can’t get over the story of him dressing up in a gorilla suit and interrupting a live show. I hear Peter Schneider wasn’t too happy but that everything was okay because Michael Eisner laughed. Another Shawn classic story is him being thrown out of the Oliver and Co. wrap up party because he was wearing a much better Dodger costume than the one they had.  Keller started at Disney at the young age of 17(only a year senior from my current age.) Some of his work includes the eels in Little Mermaid, the dog in Mulan, Cookie in Atlantis, and the rabbit in Home on the Range.

Keller’s Work

Black Cauldron(1985)- Animator

Great Mouse Detective(1986)- Animator

Oliver and Co.(1988)- Animator

Little Mermaid(1989)- Lead Animator on Eels

Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- Animator on Quasimodo, visual development artist and character designer

Mulan(1998)- Lead Animator on Little Brother

Atlantis(2001)- Supervising Animator on Preston Whitmore and Cookie

Treasure Planet(2002)- Animator on Jim Hawkins

Home on the Range(2004)- Lead Animator on Lucky Jack

Byron Howard- A great animator and a top man in the later days of the Florida Studio. His work includes animating under Aaron Blaise onYaoand the Ancestors in Mulan,  supervising and designing Cobra Bubbles in Lilo and Stitch,  and supervising Kenai in Brother Bear. Since then he has been a director on Bolt and Tangled.

Howard’s Work

Pocahontas(1995)- Inbetweener on Pocahontas

Mulan(1998)- Animator on Yao and the Ancestors

Lilo and Stitch(2002)- Supervising Animator on Cobra Bubbles, Character Designer

Brother Bear(2003)- Supervising Animator on Kenai

Chicken little(2005)- Additonal Story Artist

Bolt(2008)- Director, Additional Screenplay Material

Tangled(2010)- Director

 

Dave Burgess- A real underrated animator with a great cartoony, round style. He first made noise by animating some of the best scenes of the Genie in Aladdin (including the cookbook sequence and quite a bit of the character in Prince Ali) and supervising alongside Alex Kupershmidt on the Hyenas in the Lion King. He then went on to supervise Archdeacon in Hunchback and Porter in Tarzan. Currently Burgess is a supervising animator at DreamWorks, where he has been a mainstay for several years.

Burgess’s Work

Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator

Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animator on Gaston

Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Genie

Lion King(1994)- Supervising Animator on Hyenas

Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Grandmother Willow

Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- Supervising Animator on Archdeacon

Tarzan(1999)- Supervising Animator on Porter

Atlantis(2001)- Animator on Milo

One by One(2004)- Animator

 

Chris Wahl- A very good animator who makes the most appealing, round cartoony drawings. After animating under Ruben Aquino on Ursula he supervised Lefou in Beauty and the Beast as well as the palace guards in Aladdin and some gorillas in Tarzan.

Wahl’s Work

Oliver and Co(1988)- Breakdown Artist and Inbetweener

Little Mermaid(1989)- Animator on Ursula

Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator

Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Supervising Animator on Lefou

Aladdin(1992)- Lead Animator on Guards

Lion King(1994)- Animator on Mufasa and Young Simba

Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Thomas

Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- Animator on Frollo

Tarzan(1999)- Supervising Animator on Flynt and Mungo

Atlantis(2001)- Animator on Rourke

Bolt(2008)- Animator

 

Chris Buck- An underrated animator who can’t seem to ever be able to make an unappealing drawing. He supervised Grandmother Willow, Percy, and Wiggins in Pocahontas as well as Maggie in Home on the Range and Abby Mallard in Chicken Little. Buck was a director on Tarzan and is now directing an upcoming project at Disney.

Buck’s Work

Fox and the Hound(1981)- Animator

Fun with Mr. Future(1982)- Animator

Black Cauldron(1985)- Animator (uncredited)

Roger Rabbit(1988)- Experimental Animation(uncredited)

Oliver and Co.(1988)- Animator

Little Mermaid(1989)- Character Designer

Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Experimental Animation (uncredited), Character Designer and Visual Development

Pocahontas(1995)- Supervising Animator on Grandmother Willow, Percy, and Wiggins, Story, Visual Development & Character Designer

Tarzan(1999)- Director

Home on the Range(2004)- Supervising Animator on Maggie

Chicken Little(2005)- Animator on Abby Mallard

 

Broose Johnson- A very sincere, intuitive animator who’s very underrated and talented. He really is a great method actor in animation and really understands his characters. Among Johnson’s accomplishments include animating scenes with the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, scenes with the Genie in Aladdin, the otters in Pocahontas, supervising Chien-Po and Ling in Mulan, and supervising Tuke in Brother Bear.

Johnson’s Work

Oliver and Co(1988)- Animating Assistant

Cranium Command(1989)- Inbetweener

Little Mermaid(1989)- Assistant Animator

Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator on Joanna

Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animator on Beast

Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Genie

Lion King(1994)- Animator on Young Simba

Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Percy and Lead Animator on Otters; Additional Story Material

Mulan(1998)- Supervising Animator on Chien-Po and Ling

John Henry(2000)- Story Supervisor

Brother Bear(2003)- Supervising Animator on Tuke; Story

 

Mike Cedeno- An unsung animator with the draftsmanship as good as Glen Keane and Tony Fucile. The man can draw and animate anything! Among his accomplishments include supervising Kocoum in Pocahontas and the Atlantean King in Atlantis. Cedeno also did some solid scenes with Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Simba in the Lion King, Phoebus in Hunchback, and Young Hercules in Hercules.

Cedeno’s Work

Fox and the Hound(1981)- Animator

Oliver and Company(1988)-Story, Computer Animator

Little Mermaid(1989)- Animator

Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator

Prince and the Pauper(1990)- Animator

Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animator on Belle, Visual Development

Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Aladdin

Lion King(1994)- Animator on Adult Simba

Pocahontas(1995)- Supervising Animator on Kocoum

Runaway Brain(1995)- Additional Animator

Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- Animator on Phoebus

Hercules(1997)- Animator on Young and Baby Hercules

Tarzan(1999)- Additional Animator

Atlantis(2001)- Supervising Aniamtor on Atlantian King, Character Designer, and Visual Development

Treasure Planet(2002)- Animator on Jim Hawkins

Brother Bear(2003)- Additional Clean-up Artist

 

Mike Show- An animator who’s a master at making the character perform and has great creativity. He supervised the Muses in Hercules an also animated solid scenes with Abu in Aladdin and Timon in the Lion King.  I love Mike’s great performance skills in animation and the great personality he puts into his animation.

Show’s Work

Oliver and Co(1988)- Breakdown Artist and Inbetweener

Little Mermaid(1989)- Assistant Animator

Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animating Assistant

Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animator on Cogsworth

Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Abu

Lion King(1994)- Animator on Timon

Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Pocahontas

Hercules(1997)- Supervising Animator on Muses

Tarzan(1999)- Additional Animator

Fantasia 2000(1999)- Animator on Rhapsody and Blue

Emperor’s New Groove(2000)- Animator on Nina(uncredited)

Treasure Planet(2002)- Supervising Animator on Morph

Home on the Range(2004)- Animator on Mrs. Calloway

Chicken Little(2005)- Animator

Meet the Robinsons(2007)- Animator

Bolt(2008)- Animator

Princess and the Frog(2009)- Animator on Ray and lead animator on butterflys and swooning girls

 

Brian Ferguson- An underrated animator who’s been at Disney for 20 years and is animating there still. He’s most well known for supervising Panic in Hercules. He also animated the mouse and Timon in the Lion King, Iago in Aladdin, the Matchmaker in Mulan,Chacoand Bucky in Fantasia 2000, and Onus in Treasure Planet.Fergusonis Canadian and studied animation at the Sheridan Institute.  I am a nut for his comic timing and great rhythm in his animation.

Ferguson’s Work

Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animating Assistant

Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Iago

Lion King(1994)- Animator on Timon and Mouse

Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Meeko

Hercules(1997)- Supervising Animator on Panic

Mulan(1998)-Lead Animator on Matchmaker

Tarzan(1999)- Additional Animator

Fantasia 2000(1999)- Animator on Rhapsody and Blue

Emperor’s New Groove(2000)- Lead Animator on Chaco and Bucky

Treasure Planet(2002)- Supervising Animator on Onus

Home on the Range(2004)- Animator on Rico, Willies, and Horses

Chicken Little(2005)- Animator

Meet the Robinsons(2007)- Supervising Animaor

Bolt(2008)- Animator

Princess and the Frog(2009)- Animator on Ray and Supervising Animator on Ray’s Family

Winnie the Pooh(2011)- Animator

 

James Lopez- A great animator who also currently works at Disney. He was the supervisor of Pain in Hercules and animated one of my favorite scenes in the Lion King, the end of Can You Feel the Love Tonight where Pumbaa and Timon have elephant tears.

Lopez’s Work

Lion King(1994)- Animator on Timon and Pumbaa

Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Wiggins

Runaway Brain(1995)- Additional Animator

Hercules(1997)- Supervising Animator on Pain

Emperor’s New Groove(2000)- Lead Animator on Tipo

Home on the Range(2004)- Lead Animator on Farm Animals

Chicken Little(2008)- Animator

Princess and the Frog(2009)- Animator on Dr. Facille and Lead Animator on Tap Dancing Kid

Winnie the Pooh(2011)- Animator

 

Richard Bazley- A great British animator who has great sincerity and expressions in his work. He did a lot of the best stuff of John Smith in Pocahontas and animated Hercules’s foster parents in Hercules.

Bazley’s Work

Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on John Smith

Hercules(1997)- Supervising Animator on Amphitryon and Alceme

Tarzan(1999)- Additional Animator

 

Larry White- A very dedicated animator who has spent time as a teacher in animation. His biggest scene at Disney is the immense amount of animals seen at the end of Prince Ali. White had to draw all those lions, bears, and other animals- hard work! He also has done a lot of work in visual effects animation.

White’s Work

Black Cauldron(1985)- Assistant Animator

Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator

Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Lead Animator on Wolves

Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Sultan and Lead Animator on Prince Ali Animals excluding Abu in Elephant form

Lion King(1994)- Animator on Hyenas

Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Percy

Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- Animator on Gargoyles

Dinosaur(2000)- Supevising Animator

Atlantis(2001)- Animator on Milo

Treasure Planet(2002)- Animator on Silver’s Crew

 

Andreas Wessel-Therhorn- A great animator with an excellent sense of timing. Among the projects he’s worked on include Hercules in Hercules, Kala in Tarzan, the coffee sequence in the Rhapsody in Blue, Kuzco in Emperor’s New Groove, and Mama Oldie in Princess and the Frog. Andreas is fromGermanyand is now animating freelance in Los Angeles.

Wessel-Therhorn’s Work

Hercules(1997)- Animator on Adult Hercules

Tarzan(1999)- Animator on Kala

Fantasia 2000(1999)- Animator on Rhapsody and Blue

Emperor’s New Groove(2000)- Animator on Kuzco

Home on the Range(2004)- Animator on Mrs. Calloway

Princess and the Frog(2009)- Animator on Mother Odie and Juju

 

T. Dan Hofstedt- An unsung animator who is a master caricaturist. At every studio he’s worked at he’s been the one you ask for a caricature. Among his work is Gazeem and Prince Achmed in Aladdin, young Simba in the Lion King, the Gargoyles in Hunchback, supervising The Emperor in Mulan, supervising the Captain and Thugs in Tarzan, supervising Mr. Arrow in Treasure Planet, and supervising the Jazz Band, Voodoo Masks, and Voodoo Dolls in the Princess and the Frog. T. Dan has also worked for Sullivan/Bluth and co-supervised animation on Monster House.  He is now working at Reel FX Entertainment.

Hofstedt’s Work

Aladdin(2002)- Lead Animator on Gazeem and Prince Achmed & Additonal Animator(uncredited) on Aladdin

Lion King(1994)- Animator on Young Simba

Pocahontas(1995)- Supervising Animator on Ben and Lon & Animator(uncredited) on Governer Ratcliffe

Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- Animator on Gargoyles

Mulan(1998)- Supervising Animator on Emperor

Tarzan(1999)- Supervising Animator on Captain and Thugs

Treasure Planet(2002)- Supervising Animator on Mr. Arrow

Princess and the Frog(2009)- Lead Animator on Voddoo Masks, Jazz Band, Voddoo Dolls,and Mob Shadows

 

Sandro Cleuzo- A very talented animator and artist from Brazil who began working in animation at age 15. He started at Bluth before coming to Disney in the late 1990s. Cleuzo was a supervising animator on the Emperor’s New Groove and Home on the Range before leaving the studio for 4 years to work on freelance. Sandro then returned to work on the Princess and the Frog most notably on the Almost There sequence before leaving the studio again. He now is currently back in Brazil.

Cleuzo’s Work

Tarzan(1999)- Additional Animator

Fantasia 2000(1999)- Animator on Piano Concerto No. 2 and Firebird Suite

Empero’s New Groove(2000)- Lead Animator on Theme Song Guy, Waitress, Old Man, Official, and Maidens

Home on the Range(2004)- Supervising Animator on Jebb and Sheriff

Enchanted(2007)- Animator

Princess and the Frog(2009)-Animator on Prince Naveen and Tiana’s Fantasy & Lead Animator on the Finne Brothers